Method of welding



May 14,1935. J. J. F'AUGHV METHOD OF WELDING Filed May 2B, 1932 Power INVENToR JAMES l DAUGH BY ATTORNEY mental M., 14, laas UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD 0F WELDING apsuuuon'my za, 1m, sum no. mass -4 claim. (ci. :1s-u) My invention relates to electric welding and more particularly to a method and apparatus adapted for use in the welding of galvanized sheet metal parts.

It is a well-known experience in the welding industry to have the welding electrodes' become coated with galvanizing material during a welding operation on galvanized sheets resulting in a condition about the electrode surface amounting to substantially a covering of insulating material.

It is my intention to eliminate the diillculties aforementioned and to accomplishother desirable features incidental thereto by means of discharging co-extensively about the welding point .of an electrode a blast of air carrying iiuid vapor synchronously with the flow of welding current.

I attain the above enumerated and other desirable objects incidental thereto by placing a discharge oriiice concentrically about the welding electrode and controlling the discharge of mixed-air and liquid therefrom by a means actuated in accordance with the conditions of the welding circuit.

My invention will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing and its Yscope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accomparwing drawing.

Figure l is a cross-section elevation of an apparatus embodying nu! invention. and

Figure 2 is a cross-sec on on line 2-2 through the electrode. 1

Obviously the figures in the drawing are schematic and are used for purposes of illustration. showing a simple form of construction capable of use in connection with the invention herein disclosed. Some of the parts areenlarged for purposes of more easy apprehension of the device and the complete assembly as illustrated is disproportionate dimensionately commensurately throughmit.

The assembly in general comprises an electrode Il having a discharge member Il mounted in concentric relation to the electrodes and neceiving at some point a conduit or pipe line I2 connected with a suitablev water supply 3l and an air supply I4. Intel-posed in the pipe line I! and suitably positional with respect to the air and water supply is an electro-magneticallyoperated valve i6 connected with the main power supply going to the electrode and thereby adapted for synchronous operation with the flow of welding current, in such a manner that the blast or Jet of water-saturated air is discharged substantially adjacent the welding electrode during the welding operation and at other times the air blast is shut ofi thereby conserving power and not interfering with the operation of ,the parts I during the relative approach and retrograde movements withl respect to the work pieces.

'Ihe electrode I0 is substantially hollow. as shown at I6, and having positioned substantially centrally thereof a water supply pipe l1 adapted i0 to convey cool water into the electrode. The heated water iiows upwardly about the inlet pipe passingto any suitable apparatus forv its reception. The orice Il comprises a suitable cylindrical portion i4 concentrically4 mounted and ll spaced externally of the electrode and 'fastened thereto by means of a shoulder I0 and any form of connection suitable to the exigencies of the composition of the parts. The conduit I2 enters this skirt or cylindrical member Il and is broken 20 at several points 2l and 22 thereby being adapted lfor flexible connection or any other connections suitable for the adjacent supporting parts of. al

Ioi' air from the valve l5. The valveI i5 although shown open in Fig. 1, is of the normally closed type having a plunger 40 connected to the 35 valve member per se and mounted inoperative association with the solenoid 4i which is associated with the power supply line 42. The opposite side of the power is connected with the electrode 43 positionedbelow the two work members 44 and 45.

The operation of my device is asvfollows: After the welding electrodes 43 and it have been relatively approached with respect to the work parts 44 and 45 overlapping intermediate the electrode points, a suitable pressure is obtained, then the welding current is turned on by aproper timing mechanism associated with the apparatus. The flow of welding current functions to actuate the solenoid and valve mechanism 40 and 4I thereby opening the air supply from the reservoir I4 into the conduit i2. The compressed gas passes the iluid inlet in the form of a jet-and a Venturi type of opening may be placed in the line substantially adjacent the water inlet to more evenly or more satisfactorily break up the globules oi' water though this latter expedient is optional. The uid is broken up into very minute particles, saturating or moistening the gas supply so that a cloud of mixed gas and vapor 46 is discharged about the electrode adjacent the point of contact with the work. yThis cloud of cold-saturated air cools the electrode and likewise acts to cool the work parts adjacent the point of welding. The moisture passes away from the parts in the form of steam after having received a substantial portion of the B. t. u. content of the work parts and electrode adjacent the welding. lThis procedure. continues until the duration of welding has ceased at which time a weld has occurred at the pOnt fil?, the blast ceases and the electrodes are saturated. The actuation of the device continues in this manner at each spot weld and the galvanizing material upon the surfaces 4S of the sheet metal members is retained thereupon and does not stick to the surface of the electrode, forming a substantially insulating oxide thereupon.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated and described herein has been selected for the purpose of clearly setting forth the principles intions encountered in its use and I therefore aim to cover by the appended claims all modifications within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. The method of cooling a spot welding electrode which comprises continuously circulating a cooling medium interiorly of the electrode and discharging a blast of air containing vaporized or atomized water about the electrode welding point synchronously with the passage of theswelding current.

2. A spot welding combination comprising a hollow water-cooled spot welding electrode, a cylindrical discharge orifice concentric therewith, a water supply means, a compressed air supply, means connecting said orifice to said water and said air supply means, and an electro-magnetic valve controlling the discharge from said orifice synchronously with the now of welding current.

3. The combination of a spot welding electrode and cooling means including an oriiice arranged to discharge a blast of air containing vapor-ized huid toward the electrode point and means to release said blast in synchronism with the ilow of welding current.

4. The combination of a spot welding electrode and cooling means including an orifice arranged to discharge a jet of a cooling fluid toward the electrode, and means arranged to release said jet in synchronism with the flow of welding current.

JAMES J. PAUGH. 

